Arch Manning Reveals Message to Texas' Steve Sarkisian in New Video Amid Benching Buzz

Arch Manning has struggled immensely in recent games for Texas, throwing two interceptions and taking seven sacks in back-to-back losses against Oklahoma and Florida.

That has led to calls among Longhorns' fans for him to be benched, though Texas is sticking with him as the starter for now. But on Monday, Manning said he knows he needs to be better and expressed as much to head coach Steve Sarkisian.

"I told him I expect myself to play better," he told reporters. "I haven't put good film on tape the past five weeks. I'm gonna be better. I'm gonna be better for my teammates, be better for myself, be better for my coaches."

Manning was one of the most hyped prospects in college football history upon his arrival in Austin back in 2023, especially given his family pedigree, but has struggled to live up to expectations. This season he's thrown for 1,295 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions, completing 63.9 percent of his passes. He's also rushed for 102 yards.

But October's back-to-back losses now means that Texas might need to be perfect the rest of the way to earn a College Football Playoff bid, something the team also missed out on last year. For a team ranked in the top five during the preseason it would be a massive failure, and Texas is running short of time for Manning to put it all together.